Bodegas TV launched New York City's first in-store video network, bodegas.tv, on June 4, 2026, at the #NYTechWeek Bodega & Small Business Innovation Summit, held at the Stuyvesant Yacht Club in the Bronx. The event, co-hosted by the Bodega & Small Business Group (BSBG) and Cortes Global Equity Partners, convened over 100 bodega owners, startup founders, investors, and technologists to explore what organizers call the "Sovereign Bodega" framework—modernizing the corner store's digital infrastructure without displacing the cultural identity that makes bodegas essential to their communities.
The summit featured panels covering four pillars of bodega modernization: Media Tech & AI, FinTech, Security, and Infrastructure. Panelists included Andre Ureña, co-founder of Centro AI; Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham, CEO of Alvix Advisory; and Steve Yanovsky, founder of Brand Alchemy, who previously led digital strategies for Apple, ESPN, and Microsoft Xbox and co-founded DriverTV, which was acquired by NBCUniversal. Other participants included Samira O., founder of Building Experimental AI Products; Charlie Barnet, co-founder of World Mobile; Arabel Alva Rosales, president of AAR Tech; Jean Michael Lif, co-founder of RDÉ; and Riya Goel, investment banker at Bank of America.
Bodegas TV's network aims to deliver hyper-local media, advertising campaigns, and AI-curated content directly to the point of purchase, targeting Latino and urban communities that contribute $45 billion in annual spending in NYC's corner stores. The launch marks the beginning of a planned expansion to 500 bodegas by the end of 2026 and 2,000 bodegas within three years.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson emphasized the importance of bodegas, saying, "Our bodegas are always open. They are the ones who are building relationships, community, and they are the ones creating jobs." Carlos Collado of the National Supermarket Association added, "Technology is something we can all integrate into our businesses. We are in every corner and we are here to stay." Ozzie Cortes, founder of Cortes Global Equity Partners, noted, "I’m amazed by the level of support... and the amount of commitment and resolve to protect bodegas."
The "Sovereign Bodega" thesis centers on modernization without displacement and technology without erasure, aiming to preserve the cultural significance of bodegas while leveraging technology to enhance their operations and revenue streams. The network's deployment is expected to transform storefronts into hyper-local media hubs through decentralized broadcasting and intelligent automation, while integrated financial systems and AI-powered security could unlock new efficiencies for small businesses.
